After earning an Academy Award for his performance in the first movie, Joaquin Phoenix is reprising his role as the Clown Prince of Crime, so the actor is coming back to the role with confidence. A new behind the scene video gave us a preview of what to expect as Joker 2 began filming in Los Angeles on March 4th. In the first look footage, we see Phoenix's Joker prowling the streets and being pursued by what appear to be copycat Jokers. One has a similar appearance to Fleck in the final scene of the first movie, and we can't help but wonder whether this is all in the villain's twisted mind.
In this follow-up story, The Joker/Arthur Fleck is expected to remain in Arkham Asylum where he will meet fellow patient, Harley Quinn, played by Lady Gaga. However, fans are left wondering what could happen if they were to escape and wreak havoc on Gotham. The potential for chaos is high, and viewers can't wait to see what twists and turns the film will take and explain the copycat Jokers.
In contrast to the comic books, the Joker from 2019 offered a distinct, stand-alone portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime and his backstory. That turned out to be far from a negative thing, of course, and while Todd Phillips' film lacked faithfulness to the source, it more than made up for it with a gripping, frequently unsettling approach to Arthur Fleck's transformation into a villain. In Joker: Folie à Deux, the iconic comic book villain will continue that unsettling approach from its predecessor.
News about Lady Gaga's potential involvement in Joker: Folie a Deux, has generated mixed reactions among fans. While some are excited to see Gaga's acting abilities and her take on Harley Quinn, others are skeptical about the idea of the movie being a musical. Some fans are worried that a musical approach might not do justice to the darker themes and characters of the Joker/Harley Quinn story, while others are intrigued by the format which could provide a fresh perspective on the characters and their motivations.
Todd Phillips is once again directing the movie, with Scott Silver returning to co-write the sequel along with the director. Phillips has recently made headlines after his name appeared in stories suggesting that Warners was interested in having him head DC Films. Although it hasn't happened yet, the filmmaker did once reveal that he had offered WB executives the idea of a full "dark" label.
"When I pitched them 'Joker,' it wasn't a movie, it was, let's do a whole label," Phillips said in 2019. "They shut that down quickly and I get it. Who am I to walk in and start a label at a film studio? But they said, let's do this one.” He added, "Here's the real truth about a sequel. While Joaquin and I have talked about it, and while touring the world with Warner Bros executives — going to Toronto, and Venice, and other places — of course, we're sitting at dinner and they're saying, 'So, have you thought about…?' But, talking about contracts, there's not a contract for us to even write a sequel, we've never approached Joaquin to be in a sequel. Will that happen? Again, I just think the article was anticipatory at best.”
Joker: Folie a Deux will hit theaters on October 4, 2024!
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